The La Salle High School football team has won only one game in the past two seasons and has not had a winning season in six years..

That can give the impression the talent has been suffering.

So when Russell Gordon showed up last winter from Campbell Hall, where he coached the Vikings, he said he was surprised by the caliber of the Lancers’ players.

“I’m impressed with the players in the program,” Gordon said. “There are some really good players. Everybody saw that the kids were dying for just hard work and somebody to change the (losing) culture.

“The coaches here did a great job. We’re just going to build upon it.”

Gordon probably wouldn’t have left Campbell Hall if the North Hollywood school administration hadn’t decided to not have a varsity program this year. The Vikings had gone 20-10 the last three seasons.

“We’re just trying to fix it,” Gordon said. “We have a great staff that has been together for 12 years. We do not have too many chiefs.”

Campbell Hall lost to Rio Hondo Prep in the CIF-Southern Section Division XIII title game in 2005.

“We’re every bit as talented or more than the teams I had at Campbell Hall,” Gordon said. “It’s neat to have a good talent base. We’re just lacking in interior depth.”

The Lancers return a full backfield led by running back Israel Lacy, who will play in only his second full season of football. Lacy led the Lancers with 618 yards and three touchdowns last season.

“He is probably one of the best athletes I have ever coached,” Gordon said. “I have had 20 kids playing college football. He can jump, catch, run and has great vision. I think last year was his first taste of football. This year will be his coming out party.”

Joining Lacy in the backfield will be his cousin, junior Bryce Harvey. Austin Wallis is at quarterback but he is being pressed for the starting position by Man Berg, who transferred from Campbell Hall. He saw limited action last season.

Wallis passed for 1,112 yards and five touchdowns last season.

With a multiple-formation spread offense, whoever gets the top quarterback spot will be able to throw the ball to Marcus Tappan, a tight end who will move around in a position Gordon called an “H-Back.” He caught a team-high 20 passes for 252 yards last year.

Tappan is being pursued by several NCAA Division I programs.

Defensively, the Lancers will line up in a 4-4, led by linebacker Bobby LaSalle. He had 94 tackles last year.

“He’s our defensive leader without a doubt,” Gordon said. “He has great form and is a good athlete.”

Senior linemen Shane Tierney, Bryce Shaw and Tom Sparks are up front.

Lacy had 10 interceptions in a summer league passing tournament this season.

Gordon said all the Lancers lack is depth.

“Learning a new system has been challenging, but the kids really adapted,” Gordon said. “Their work ethic has been very good.”